Beverage vending machine



Jim. 23; 1934.

R. L. ROGERS BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed Jam 27, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Imnayatar: ZZZ ZPE I. .Rgyew,

Jan. 23, 1934. R. 1.. ROGERS BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet '2 Wk .LIRgyerqi M a f a.

Jan. 23, 1934-. R, L; ROGERS I BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Jan. 27 1930 fai Jan. 23, 1934.. R. L. ROGERS BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 27, 1930 Jan. 23, 1934;

, R. urnec'igks BEVERAGE VENDING mmumm 6 Sheets -Sheet 5 v I Filed Jan. 27, 1930 Jam 23, 1934 R. L. ROGERS BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet e Irwenwfvr: kZJBqyera,

Patented Ja n. 23, 1934 uNiTEo STAT-ES A E OFFICE BEVERAGE 1 21:33; MAcmNE Ralph L. Rogers,

Knoxville, Tenn., assignor to The General Automatic Merchandising Cor poration, a corporation of Delaware application January 27, 1930. Serial No. 423,842 so Claims. (c1. 225-.-21)

' This invention relates to improvements in. beverage vending machines, and more partic--- ularly concerns a coinjcontrolled vending machine of this type, which is self-contained and portable. j One of the features of the present invention is the provision of an operating mechanism for sucha machine, in which ;a single handle is employed for vending any of a plurality of flavors of beverage, the choosing of the particular flavor of beverage being accomplished by a selector mechanism accessible to the customer.

Another feature'of the invention is to provide a novel type of coin controlled mechanism which prevents the movementof the oper ting handle until after the deposit and insertion of the required token, usually a coin, this mechani'sm operating after the dischargeof the beverage to eject, the coin and prepare themachine fora new operation.

Afurther feature of the invention is the provision of a novel valve and control system whereby a predetermined volume of syrup and/or carbonatedwater is prepared and dischargedat each dispensing operation. ,Still another featureof the invention is the provision of means wherebyfmilking or fraud- 'ulent obtaining of an excess'quantity of-beverage is prevented.

. A still further feature of the invention is the provision of .a valving and mixing system whereby the valve controlling the particular syrup is located closely adjacent the point of mixing with the carbonated water and the like, and means are provided for regulating the flow of carbonated water and the like so that the' syrup is fully discharged into the -mixing chamber prior to the completion of the discharge of the water,

and the last portions of the water serve to rinse the mixing chambenand associated parts whereby to prevent'the carrying over of a portion of one flavor so that it might mingle with and modify the next dispensed. quantity.

v Another feature of the invention is the'provision of a machine in which the syrup tanks, ice compartment, and other elements are of simpleconstruction and are: -adapted for preassembly and simple exchange forrepairsi A further feature-of the invent 'on is the provision of a machine in which the various elements are so constructed and arranged as to permit easy servicing or 'resupplying with the necessary carbonated' water, syrup and ice: while the operating parts are protected against injury by mechanical contact or the dripping or .during the servicing operations for ice and carbonated water. I g

A particular feature of the invention is the provision'of a machine having simple and di-' rectly connected parts, and in which the cup into which the dispensed quantity of beverage is delivered is located closely adjacent the front of the machine so that it may be easily inserted and removed as desired. w i

' Another feature of the invention is the provision of interlocking mechamisms ,for controlling the sequence of movements of the several parts, and to prevent theintentional or accidental movement of parts when such, movement should be prevented during the operation of the machine. I

'With these and other objects in view, an il-. lustrative' form of constructing a machine according to the present inventi on is shown on the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is anisometric view showing the right side and rear of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding isometricview' showing the front and right side of the apparatus. Fig-3 is a front view, with the face panel removed; of the upper part of the apparatus on a larger scale. v

Fig. 4 is a corresponding end view with the casing removed.

. Fig. 5. is a corresponding top view, with the'top door removed.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6a is a face view of a part of the front panel, showing the-selector slot. a

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view, substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 5, on a larger scale.

Fig. 9 is a corresponding detail sectional view substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

"Fig. 10 is an enlargedvertical axial section through the mixing chamber.

' Fig. 11 is a horizontal section substantially on line 1111 of Fig. 10, on a-larger scale.

"Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the syrup measuring chamber with associated parts.

Fig. 13 isa vertical axial view through the measuring chamber'for the carbonated water, a

with associated parts. v v

Fig. 14 is a detail view of the coin controlled mechanism, corresponding to and on a'larger scale than Fig. 4, showing the parts in the normal or rest position.

Fig. 15 is a corresponding view showing the parts after the insertion of a coin.

Fig. 16 is a corresponding view, showing the parts after the handle has been operated.

Fig. .17 is a sectional view of the parts shown in Figures 14 to 16, taken horizontally through the coin injecting'bar.

In these drawings, the machineis illustrated as comprising a portable casing having appropriate doors for access to the-various parts. Within this casing, are provided the containers for the syrups and the mixing liquid, which ordinarily is carbonated water, measuring and delivering devices for the respective liquids, means for mixing the measured volumes of these liquids and delivering them into a cup or similar receptacle, together with the necessary mechanical elements for the selection of the desired flavor and the operation of the system under appropriate check controls.

The syrups are contained in individual tanks and a'predetermined quantity thereof is delivered upon the operation of the machine into a mixing chamber, where it is encountered by a predetermined volume of mixing liquid and ultimately defeasible. The return movement of the handlev restores the parts to position for the next dispensing operation. v

In Figs. 1 and 2 the casing of the machine is shown to comprise the front wall 10, hinged top door 11, side wall 12 and the rear doors 13, 14. In the side wall 12 is provided. a door 15 with suitable lock through which the deposited coins or other tokens may be withdrawn by the person holding the key thereto. In the front wall 10. is a recess 16 shut ofi from the remaining portion of the interior of the container by the partition wall 17, and intended to hold the receptacle R, which may be a cup or tumbler, into which the beverage is delivered. Above the cavity 16 is a horizontal slot 18 along which may be moved the selecting handle 19. The slot 20 receives the coin and delivers it into proper position opposite the check controlled mechanisms into which it may be injected by the coin knob 21. The handle 22 is connected rigidly to a shaft 23 passing through the side wall 12 of the casing.

The aforesaid walls of the casing are supported by vertical angle irons 24 at the four corners, which are braced and held in proper relationship to one another by the horizontal angle irons 25, 26, 27. The angle iron 26 supports also the transverse, shelf members 28 upon which rest the bottoms of the syrup tanks T, Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, of which the four and tanks T, Ta, Tc, Td may be of the same size if so desired,'while the middle tank Tb is preferably of greater width and is intended to, hold a much larger volume of the:

particular syrup, and .hence is adapted for a syrup whose flavor is in the greatest demand.

The angle irons 25 support the transverse bars 29, 30 which in turn support the insulating cas-. ing 31 surrounding the ice tank which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The 'bar 30 is provided with the downwardly extending, brackets 32 which support the operatingshaft 23 and the guide rod 33 for the. selector sleeve 34. Each of the syrup tanks is provided with a plunger or operating rod 35, 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, which are identical in construction and are spaced apart a proper distance according to the respective dimensions of the syrup tanks. A description of the operating parts [associated with one therefore applies to ea'chof the others. The rod 35 is guided in apertures of the horizontal bars 28 and 30, and is provided with rack teeth 36 below the .bar 30 for engagement with a respective gear 37 which is splined to be slidable along the shaft 23. When the shaft 23 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 4, the gear 37 causes a downward movement of the rod 35. The upper end of the rod 35 is rebent to form a loop 38 which permits the rod to pass over the upper edge of the can and avoids the necessity of providing a liquid tight packing joint provided with a plunger piston 40 operating in the measuring cup 41 tightly secured in the .bottom wall 42 of the tank T, and received in a cylindrical flange 43 of the transverse bar 28, whereby the tank is held-positively in alinement for cooperation with the rod 35.

- The rod 35 is provided with a stop collar 44 which is fixed thereto for engagement with the lower surface of the upper transverse bar 28 to limit the upward movement of the rod 35. A similar collar 45 is fastened to the rod 35 and acts against a return coil spring 46 surrounding the rod 35 and bearing against the upper surface of the lower'transverse bar 30, so that the spring 46 at all times-tends to move the rod 35 upwardly into the normal or rest position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. I

A selector sleeve 34 may be slid back and forth on the selector guide rod 33 by means of the selector handle '19 which is rigidly secured thereto. The sleeve 34 also includes a pair of. rearwardly extending bifurcated arms 47 which fit around the respect ve gears 37, 37a and cause the sliding movement of these gearsalorg the shaft 23 as the selector handle 19 is operaEdT'TheIZS selector andle 19 is provided on its bottom with a ridge 48 adapted to be seated in notches 49 along the'lower edge wall of the selector slot 18; whereby the proper positioning 'of the selector handle 19 is assured, and thus the engagement of the driving pinions 37, 37a with the proper selecting operating rod 35, 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d. The upper surface of the selector handle 19 is provided with an indicating Spur 50 which is opposite the proper legend above the slot 18 (Fig. 2) when the ridge 48 is in the corresponding notch. 49, thus giving a visual indication of the flavor which will then be delivered from the. machine. The handle 19 and associated parts maybe moved horizontally from one position to another by a slight upward movementon the handle 19 so that the handle may be moved without resistance by the engagement of the ridge 48 in any of the notches 49 until theindicator 50 v is opposite the desired flavor, and then released 5 so that it will move back by its own resilience and gravitationally into the proper notch 49.

InFig. 12 the "measuring .cup .41 islshown to extend above the bottom 42 of the tank T and is provided with a plurolity of apertures 51 lo the measuring chamber 62.

' secured to the cover 63 that "the syrup may drain from the tank T int the measuring cup. The piston 40 is provided with apertures 52 provided with ball valves whereby air or liquid is, permitted to enter the cup members 54. including the valve balls 55 and the valve springs 56, and thence into the -upper end of the mixing chamber 5'7. It will be particularly noted that the ball valves are located closely adjacent the mixing chamber.

The insulated ice tank terminates a sufiicien t distance from the front wall of the machine to permit the passage of the rods. 35, 35a, 35b, 35c,

35d (Fig. '7) but projects forwardly with an offset portion 61 between the rods 35a and 35b for the receptionof the water-measuring chamber 62,

which is shown (Fig. 13) to have a closed cover 63 into which opens the end 64 of the cooling coil,

65 for the carbonated water. The portion 64 is straight and serves as a guide for the hollow stem 66 of the water admission valve having the valve closing plate 6'? within the measuring chamber 62, and having the openings 68't'nrough its wall immediately above the valve closing plate 6'7. A

guide bushing 69 is similarly connected in t e bottom wal1.of the measuring chamber 62 and passes through the metal floor 60 of the ice chamber and through the floor insulation 31a thereof being rigidly connected in position by the clamping nuts 70 operating against the wash-.--

ers '71: 'An operating f 'and delivery sleeve '72 is 3 slidable in the bushing 69; with a close fit, and is provided with a valve.

closing plate v'13 at its upper end, adapted. to close a valve seat formed at the upper end of the bushing 69. The sleeve- 72 is provided with a plurality of apertures '74- through which water may flow from the chamber 62 into the sleeve 72 when thelatter is raised. 'A water valvespring '15 'is supported between bosses 67a and 73a of the valve plates '67and '73,

and is of such dimensions and strengtlrthat when the sleeve '72 is in the lowered position (Fig. 13) the valve plate 6'7 is free to drop by gravity and under the pressure of the carbonated liquid in the coil' 65.into,the position shown in. Fig. 13, wherebythe water. may flow from the coil 65 into The cover 63 ofthe measuring'chamber also is provided with a relief pipe '76 extending upwardly to a point above the water line WL in ice chamber; and communicating at its lower end with the measuring is provided with'an .aperture forthe passage of the, valve stem 78 which supports a valve 79 a ve the bracket '77 and a float 80 below this bracket.

The lower end of the 'sleeve'72 is provided with a member 81 having rackteeth 82' thereon for engagement by the teeth 83 (Fig. 9) of the shaft 23, so that when the crank handle 22 is moved 'in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 4, the sleeve '12 will. be forced upwardly. The sleeve '72 continues below .the member 81 .(Fig. 10). and

into the conduit 84 communicating with the up'-v penend of' the mixing chamber 5'7.

The mixing chamber has the cylindrical casing 85 extending downwardly fromdts upper end andv passes through the top wall. 86 of the recess- 16 the chamber-62. -A bracket 77 or receptacle R, being held which holds the cup the clamping collars 8'7.

in position therein by Internally, the mixing chamber 85 is provided 7 with a plurality of baflles comprising triangular members 87, 87a in alternate arrangement as shown in Fig. 11, which are heldspaced from one another-by the three vertical stay rods 88,

the rods and triangular plates being secured together by solderin for example, .so that a rigid structure is provided. At the upper end of the stay rods 88, is secured a dished plate 89 having a .slight angle and provided with a central aperture. This plate 89 substantially closes the .up-

per endof the cylindrical mixing chamber 85 and, provides the upper mixing compartment 57 therein. At the support the assembly comprising the upper plate -89 and the triangular baflie plates 8'7, 87a in proper position.

Within the lower part ,of the general casingof the machine; and inside the, lower rear door 14 thereof, is provided the container for carbonated water, which is connected with a pipe 101 which in' turn passesupwardly through the floor 41a, 60 of the ice chamber and is provided with the several coils 102, and ultimately ends-in the carbonated water delivery pipe '65.

The ice tank is provided with anoverflow pipe 103 opening into a drain 104 which leadsto a slop can 105, located inside the lower door 14, this can also receiving any v drippings 'from the waste -pipe 106 in the floor of the recess 16 (Figs. 3

and 4) The insulating wall 31 surrounding the ice tank on 'all sides is preferably provided at theiront end, at the portions extending laterally from the projection-61 with. a bevel portion 106 at its up-- to provide clearance for the pipes 53 per edge.

and the measuring chambersl (Figs; 3-- and 4). The rear end of this ice tank extends beyond the wall 'of the syrup tanks T (Fig.- 4), and is provided with a hinged top door 107 through which ice may be-introduceclinto the ice chamber.

i into and out of position freely, for interchange Y and by disconnecting the carbonated water; sup

ply pipe 101 from its tank.

The syrup tanks T, Ta, To and Td are of uniform-shape and size, -so that interchange is possible; .and

these smaller tank units may be made in quantity ready for substitution: the same is true'of the larger syrup tank Tb. These tanks erably assembled with their measuring cups 41 and delivery'pipes 53,-. .To substitute a new tank it is merely necessary to remove the respective operating rod 35 and the top clamping bar 108 and disconnect the upper or lower end of the pipe 53 by releasing the respectiveconnecting nut at its end. The pipe is flexiblefand can be withdrawnjfrom position while the respective syrup tankcup from the boss 43' of the upper transverse bar lower end, the stay rods 88 are connected to a plate disk 90 having a number,

of apertures therethrough, which is soldered or otherwise fixed inposition in the lowerend of the cylindrical mixing chamber 85, whereby to l The icechamber and itsinsulating' :walls are constructed as a unit and may be slid throughthe lower transtanks are likewise removable. The I are prefbeing raised to disengage its measuring I 28. The tank may then be withdrawn as 1 a whole through the top of the machine, and a new tank and pipe substituted.

The upper portion of the machine, above the lower transverse bars 29, 30 is preferably provided with an insulating jacket including the in sulating floor 31b which is an extension of the insulation 31a of the jacket surrounding the ice tank, and the vertical enclosing insulating walls 109. The top of this insulated compartment is closed by the heat insulating top door 11 and the rear wall by the heat insulating door 13. By this means, the'syrup tanks are maintained cool by the same ice charge which refrigerates the carbonated water entering through the pipe 101.

The lower compartment containing the carbonated water tank and the slop can is closed off from the front of the machine by the vertical wall 109 which preferably is formed as an integral upward extension of the floor 36 of the mechanism compartment, and by the rear wall 110 which is likewise formed as an integral upward extension of the floor 111 of recess 16, being provided, as described hereinafter with the drain 106. These walls likewise prevent the splashing or dripping of liquid from the recess 16 into other parts of the machine. I

The coin control mechanism includes the chute 120 leading downward and backwardly from the coin slot 20 to a position behindthe rear end of the coin injecting bar 121 of the coin push handle 21. In the position of Fig. 1d, the coin C is shownin dotted lines as located at the lower end of the chute and within the enclosing wall 122 surrounding the injecting bar 121. This injecting bar is normally-held in its outermost position by a return spring 123 (Fig. 17) which reacts against a,pin 124 passing through the casing 122.

The shaft 23 is provided with a ratchet wheel 125 fixed thereto. The coin actuated retaining pawl 126 is pivotally mounted on one of the downwardly extending shaft brackets 32, and is moved in a counterclockwise direction by a compression spring 127 about its pivot 128. A full- .stroke pawl 129- is mounted on a pivot 130 of the bracket 32 and has an end 131 projecting over the end of the coin actuated pawl 126, and a compression spring 1321s located between the two. The shaft. 23 likewise -'has keyed thereon a cam member 133' carrying a laterally extending lug 134 which has the-adjustable stop screw 135 therein for engagement with the lower surface of the bracket 32, whereby to determine the normal or rest positionofthe shaft 23 (Figs. -14 and 15). The bracket 32 is similarly provided with a lug 136 having the adjustable stop screw 137 therein for engagement by the lug 134 whereby to determine the limit of rocking of the shaft 23 (Fig. 16). The cam member 133 has a' cam surface 138 thereon which engages the end of a pin 139 guided in the bracket 32 and located opposite the position of the coin when injected into the machine. This pin is normally forced inwardlytoward the cam surface 138 by a spring 140, and is provided with a suitably enlarged head atthe coin end to prevent withdrawal of the pinfrom the bracket 32.

The method of operation of the machine is, as follows; r

The customer deposits a proper coin in the coin slot 20 so that the coin passes into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 14. The

coin knob 21 is now pushed in whereby the coin injecting bar 121 forces thecoin from the position of Fig. 14 into the position of Fig. 15. The coin is now engaged between the upper wall 122a oi the casing 122, and has forced downwardly the beveled end 126a of the coin actuated pawl 126 until the pawl has liberated the ratchet 125,- Prior to this, or thereafter, the customer moves the selecting handle 19 until it. is opposite the desired flavor.

The customer now'operates the handle 22 by pulling it forwardly and downwardly, i. e., in a counterclockwise direction in Figs. 2, 4 and 1d The coin actuated pawl 126 which has heretofore prevented this movement of the handle, has been withdrawn by the injection of the coin. The counterclockwise rocking movement cc of the coin actuated p'awl 126, however, has compressed the spring 132 and caused a clockwise rocking of the full-stroke pawl 129, so that the latter engages the ratchet wheel 125 and at all times prevents any return or clockwise move ment of the handle 22 during this phase of the operation.

The counterclockwise movement of the shaft 23 as occasioned .by the handle 22 causes the rotation of the operating gears37 and 37a, and not) of'the teeth 83. Only one of the gears 37 or 37a is in engagement with the teeth on the lower end of the'operating rods 35, 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d at a time. The provision of the two gears 37,

, 37a permits the employment of a much shorter 105 total movement of the handle 19 for accomplishing the selection, and hence of a shorter slot 18' in the face panel of the machine: and at the same time permits the employment of the water measuring chamber and associated 11m parts near the center of the machine, as one of the gears 37 or 37ais located on each side thereof, and the sliding movement of the gears is not impeded by the presence of the teeth 83 on the shaft 23 or the central bracket 32 and 115 sleeve 72.

As the shaft 23 rocks, the pinion 37 or 3712 which is in engagement with the selected syrup rod, say .35 (Fig. 8), causes a downward movement of this operating rod 35 against the action m of the return spring 46. The plunger piston 40 is moved downward in the measuring cup 41 at the bottom .of, the syrup tank T and forces a measured quantity of syrup from this cup through 66 is raised so that 'the openings 68 are closed and finally the valve plate 67 produces a sealagainst its seat in the cover 63 of the water measuring chamber 62. During this time, no water has been discharged from the measuring chamber or passed into the mixing chamber. The further movement of the shaft 23 causes acontinued raising of the bushing 72 until ultimately the openings 74 are raised above the floor of the measuring chamber 62. And the measured quantity of water in this chamber may now flow through these openings and downwardly in the sleeve 72 and into and through the upper compartment 57 of the mixing chamber, where it encounters the charge of syrup and establishes a mixture therewith, this mixture beingfacilitated by the passage of the two liquids downwardly through the lower portion 85 of the mixing chamber and over the baflles 87, 87a there- 150 j through the openings 90 into the receptacle lt.

in until ultimately the mixtureis delivered The projection of the syrup under pressure, and the permitted gravitational flow of the water, results in the completeidischarge of the measured quantity of syrup before all of the water has left the measuring chamber 62. Any gas-pres sure in the chamber62 facilitates the discharge of this'water, but it has'been foundthat normally it is necessary to admit air through the relief pipe 76 and past thevalve 79, which has now dropped by-gravity owing to the lack of flotation of the cork 80 by liquidin the measuring chamber' 62. The last water entering the upper end of the mixing chamber 57 scours this compartment and its associated passages and prevents the carrying over of traces of one flavor for the next dispensing operation,so that each dispensed quantity of beverageis substantially free of taint from the previous one. a

' The customer during these steps has pulled the handle 22 to the limit of its. movema'nt as determined bythe engagement of thelug 134 against the stop screw 13'? (Fig; 16). -As the cam 133 nears the end of this handle stroke, its surface 138 engages the pin 139 and forces the latter axially (Fig. 17) until it pushes the coin from between .the coin actuated pawl 126 and the upper wall 122a of the casing 122. The coin is stroke pawl 129 to return to its normal position (Fig. 14). The handle 22 and shaft 23 are thus relieved of the. interlocking effect of the fullstroke pawl 129 and are free to return under the pressure of the spring 46 and of the, auxiliary shaft return spring 2311 which is attached stem end to the partition wall 109 and atthe other end to a crank arm 23b of the shaft 23.

- As thehandle 22 and its shaft 23 movebackwardly in a clockwise direction to the initial position, the coin actuated pawl 123 prevents any movement in the counterclockwise direction. Ultimately the stop screw l encounters the lower surface of the bracket. 32 and preventsany further return movement of'the shaft 23. These parts have now returned to their normal or initial position.

During. this return ofthe shaft 23, the spring 46 has returned the operating rod ,35 to its upper position (shown-in full lines in Fig; 8), and the plunger 40 has moved upwardly in the syrup measuring chamber 41 whilesyrup has flowed downwardly in the openings 52 and ultimately through the openings 51 to fill thefmeasuring chamber 41 again.

Also, the return rocking movement of the shaft 23 has moved the sleeve '72 downwardly, so thatthe openings 74 are-first closed to shut oftthe flow of any liquid from the chamber 62, witl'li -a final closure of the valve plate 73 against the flow. of

the measuring chamber 62. During this movement, the spring 75 has been relieved pf tension until the upper valve steiri ,66 is free tornove downwardly under gravitational effect and thepressure of. the liquid in the water 'pipe165 until they openings "68 are again uncovered and water can flow into the measuring chamber 62 to fill the,

same. Air or" gas in the chamber then escapes through the pipe 76- ufntil the liquidlevel 'has raised the cork'80 and closed the valve 79 upon its seat. In this way a charge of carbonated water is measured ready for the next dispensing operation, and maintained beneath the water level in the ice compartment so that itfis thoroughly chilled awaiting this operation, in addition to the.

chilling which has already been effected in the several coils'102. a

ating rod 35, its lower end has passed through the slot in the bifurcated arm 47 of the gear 3'1 or 37a, and thus'prevented any movement of the selecting handle 19 and its sleeve 34 alongthe guide rod 33' during the dispensing operation, so

that mingling of syrups or a disengagement of the mechanism is rendered impossible at this time: in Fig. 6 the engagement of the lower end of the 'rod 35d in the bifurcated member. 4'7 for wise does not permit any access to other parts of the machine. I

The top door 11 may be unlocked and thereby access gained to the top of the syrup cans T, Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, so that the holder of the key may remove the cover 140 of any particular can and refill this can with syrup, but without gaining access to the coin control mechanism.' a Only the person having the key to the coin door 15 is enabled to remove the coinsor tokens which have been deposited in the machine. I It will particularly be noted that the rebent upper end 39 of the rod 35 may be adjusted in the piston 40 .whereby to regulate the volume of ly through the delivery pipe 53. The distance of During the downward movement'of the operfilling .the ice tank with ice. This operation likei travel of the"piston 40 below thebottom edge oi."

' the apertures 51 therefore may be adliusted by varying the position of the piston on the rebent end 39 of the plunger. The amountpf movement of the piston above the apertures 51 plays no part in the operation of the device, since liquid can a freely enter through the apertures 51.beneath the piston during the upward movement of the latter, and be discharged therefrom during the downward movement of the piston. In this way it is possible to adjust the machine according to the strength of the flavoring syrups employed.

e water measuring chamber 62 is supported above the bottom of the ice tank, and hence is exposed to the cooling effect of the ice or'the like whileit is held awaiting a dispensing operation It will particularly be noted that the entire volume of water for. any dispensing operationis retained within the ice tank until the moment of delivery for mixing: and hence'it is thoroughly succeeding dispensin operation is likewise being chilled within th'erpfrigerating coils 102. I

During the operatipngof the machine, the opcooled prior to dispensing, while the water for the erating rod 35 is-pulled downward immediately upon the-turning ofthe handle 22, and shortly. thereafter, in normal course, the piston 40 passes p I l v below the apertures 51 and the syrup'is forced under pressure through the foot check valve 54 of the respective pipe 53 and thence into the mixing chamber. At the same time, the upward movement of the water delivery sleeve 72 lnitially'closes the upper valve plate 67 to shut off the access oi. further carbonated water, and then raises the apertures 74. until water may flow downwardly through the sleeve '72 into the upper end 57 of the mixing chamber. The first quantity of water is delivered under the full pressure which has been prevailing in the water measuring chamber 62, so that this water is discharged immediately upon the syrup and by reason of the rapid expansion and boiling produced by the evolution of gas, establishes a primary mixture which is thinly liquid and flows downwardly through the mixing chamber for thorough mingling. As water continues to flow from the measuring chamber 62, the original pressure is quickly relieved, and thereafter the water flows substantially by gravity, and air is admitted at the top of the measuring chamber 62 to permit this flow. At the same time, the sleeve 72 continues to rise so that larger ports are provided for the gravitational flow of the remaining portion of the water. In this way a quick jet of water under high pressure is employed for the primary mixing, followed by a much slower and larger stream of water for the secondary mixing within the mixing chamber and in the cup, and assuring that the last portions of the water will be withheld for a sufiicient length of time owing to the gravitational flow of the water as opposed to the pressure delivery of the syrup, and by reason of the length of the water conduit in sleeve '72,

so that such last portion of the water operates to rinse the upper end 57 of the mixing chamber and prevent contamination or carrying over of the flavor from one dispensing operation to the next. A further advantage of this construction and operation is that the boiling" caused by the rapid escape of gas during the first part of the operation is employed for a primary mixing; while the slow delivery of water in the final stage prevents the dispensed quantity from overflowing the receptacle R provided to receive it, as might be the case of the entire quantity of water were discharged under pressure.

The front insulating wall 31 of the ice tank is substantially-flush with the front wall of the syrup tanks T, To: and the operating shaft 23 is located substantially in the plane of these walls. The operating rods 35 are directly driven from the shaft 23, and pass upwardly in front of but closely adjacent this plane. The upper front edge of 'the ice tank is beveled away to afford space for the connection of the syrup delivery to pipes 53. The ofiset portion 61 of the tank extends between the operating rods 35 and permits the cooling of the measuring chamber 62 and water close to the aforesaid plane, whereby the vertical operating and conduit sleeve '72 may likewise be directly driven from the shaft 23, and located close to the front of the machine, to the end that the outlet of the mixing chamber casing 85 is close to the front ofthe machine, and the customer is not required to reach far into the interior of the machine for insertion or withdrawal of the receptacle R.

It is preferred'to facilitate the assembly and dismounting of the ice tank by providinga V- shaped notch extending from the rear edge of the front lower transverse bar'30 inwardly to the aperture through which the pipe sleeve 72 .moving the tank, it is merely necesssary to disconnect and lower the mixing chamber, and to release the lower nut whereuponthe tank and measuring chamber may be withdrawn rearwardly a sumcient distance to permit it to be rocked for clearing the sleeve'.72 with respect to the partition wall 109: and now the icetank may be lifted out of the machine for repair or replacement. It will be understood that during these operations, the pipe 101 has been disconnected from the carbonated water container.

The invention is not limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, but may be modified in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A beverage'mixing and dispensing machine, comprising a plurality of syrup containers each having independent measuring and dispensing means including a valved conduit, a mixing liquid measuring and delivering device including a conduit, means providing a mixing chamber, said conduits opening into said chamber and all of said valves being located adjacent said chamber,

a single operating shaft, means carried by and rocked with said shaft andslidable therealong into operative engagement with a selected syrupmeasuring and dispensing means to effect the delivery of a predetermined quantity of the se- 3105 lected syrup when the shaft is rocked, means positively connected to said shaft to actuate said liquid measuring and delivering means for thedelivery of a predetermined quantity of the mixed liquid into saidchamber so that the delivery of the mixing liquid continues after the completed delivery of said syrup whereby said mixing liquid may flush and rinse said chamber and said syrup conduits up to said valve and therefore prevent mingling of the syrups of successive dispensing operations. I

valve members whereby said inlet-valve member 12.5

is closed prior to the opening of said outlet valve member and'whereby said resilient means permits the continued movement of said outlet valve member thereafter into open position.

3. In a beverage mixing and dispensing machine including a plurality of syrup containers, a cooling coil and measuring chamber for the mixing liquid, walls forming a cooling compartment located around said coil and measuring chamber and beneath said tanks, independent syrup measuring and dispensing devices for the respective tanks includingv independent operating rods extending downwardly past said refrigerating compartment, said compartment having an extension projecting between said rods, said measuring chamber being located substantially in said projection, the syrup tank located above said projection being larger than the other tanks whereby said rods are located externally of said refrigerating container, and means to selectively operate said rods and located beneath said compartment.

4. A measuring apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the outlet valve of the mixing chamber is located at the bottom for gravitational disch. "e 338 of the water, said chamber having an air inlet opening at its top, a valve adapted to close said air inlet, and a float located in said chamber to close said valve when a predetermined quantity.

to actuate said measuring and delivering means, and means to rock said shaft.

11. A liquid dispensing device as in claim 10,

in which each measuring device includes amovwith said chamber and extending upwardly to above saidliquid level, a valve adapted to close said air conduit and a float located in said chamber to close said valve at a predetermined liquid level in said chamber.

- 6. In a dispensing device for beverages, a supply tank, means for providing a measuring chamber extending below the bottom of said tank and having a free aperture in communication with said tank adjacent the bottom of the tank, a piston in said chamber movable upwardly past said aperture so liquid can fiow freely into said chamber through the aperture and means to move said piston downwardly past said aperture for. forcing liquid from said chamber whereby initially to force excess liquid from the chamber so that a predetermined quantity of liquid is in said chamber when said piston passes said aperture, and thereafter tovforce liquid from said chamber and to return the piston upwardly; an

' outlet conduit connected to said chamber at its bottom to receive the liquid forced from said chamber after said piston has passed said aperture, and a check valve to permit the fiow of liquid from said tank into said chamber independently of said aperture during the return movement of said piston.

'7. A dispensing device for beverages as in claim 8. A liquid dispensing machine comprising a frame, transverse members .onisaid frame having a guide aperture therethrough, and a rea member guided in. one of said transverse members fordelivering liquid from said tank.

9. A liquid dispensing machine comprising a frame, transverse members on said frame having guide apertures therethrough, a removable supply tank including a downwardly projecting member adapted to enter oneof said apertures whereby to aline the supply tank in position on said frame, and liquid delivery devices including an operating rod and adapted to deliver liquid from said tank, said rod being guided in another of said apertures and extending upwardly past said tank and being rebent over the upper edge of the tank and passing down thereinto whereby to eliminate-a packing joint between said rod and tank.

. 10. A liquid dispensing machine including 'a means for measuring and delivering a mixing liquid, independent means to dispense a'predeone of said dispensing means, means on saidshaft .d, in which a valve is provided in saidconduit to prevent the return of air or liquid through said conduit into said chamber.

able member, and the selector and sliding member include an apertured portion engageable by said movable member when operated whereby to prevent movement" of said selector and sliding member during a dispensing operation. I

' 12. In a beverage mixing and dispensing machine including means to deliver a predetermined quantity of syrup and means to deliver a predetermined quantity of' mixing liquid, a mixing chamber connected to said means and including a vertical cylindrical casing, a plurality of alternately arranged horizontal triangular baflle plates located in said casing, a rod connecting said baflle plates and maintaining them in vertically spaced relationship, and supporting means carried by said cylindrical casing to hold said rod in position in said mixing chamber.

13. In a beverage mixing and dispensing machine including a plurality. of syrup tanks and-independent measuring and delivery devices for each of said tanks includng a downwardly exof said water dispensing device, means postively rocked with said shaft but slidable-therealong to selectively engage one of the operating members of said syrup measuring devices and includin two members located on opposite sides of said fixed means, and a single selector connecting said devices for simultaneous sliding movement.

14. A liquid dispensing machine including a supply tank having an opening in its top, an

operating shaft located beneath said tank, a

plurality of supply tanksfof various first liquids,

measuring cylinder communicating with said tank adjacent its bottom, a piston movable vertically in saidc'ylinder, a pull rod including means operable' by said shaft to move it downwardly, said rod'having an upwardly extending portion-located externally of said tankand a rebent end passing through the open top 'of the tank and fixed to said piston, and a discharge conduit leading from the bottom of said cylinder. I

15. A machine as in-claim 14, in which said shaft operates to move said rod a definite predetermined distance and means are provldedfor fixing said piston at different positions of height on said rebent end whereby to vary the downward limit of travel of said piston below said aperture and vary the volume of liquid forced from sad' chamber during the dispensing operation. I 1

16. A beverage mixing and dispensing machine comprising a syrup tank'an'd m'eans'to deliver a predetermined quantity of syrup therefrom in- .floor of said -tank,,a conduit to supply mixing liqdid and including a measuring chamber, an inlet valve to control the flow of mixing liquid into said measuring chamber and an outlet valveto control the flow ofjliquid from said chamber, said valves including an actuating member which is moved upwardly for the dispensing operation,-

the operatingmember for said valvesextending downwardly parallel to said rod, a horizontal shaft located beneath said'tank and extending between said rod and member, and means on 'said shaft to move said rod downwardly and said member upwardly for aidispensing operation.

17. In a liquid dispensing machine, a supply tank having an opening in its top, a measuring and discharging device in said tank,.an operat ing rod for said device passing through said open topand then extending downwardly outside of said tank, spaced members surrounding said rod toguide the same for rectilinear movement, a stop collar on said rod engageable with one of said members to limit the upward movement of said rod, a spring stop collar on said rod,

a spring surrounding said rod and engaging said spring stop collar and one of said members to normally urge said rod upwardly, and operating means on said rod whereby it may be moved downwardly against the action of said spring.

18. A device as in-claim 17 including a hori-.

zontal shaft having a pinion thereon, said operating means for said rod comprising rack teeth engageable by said pinion.

15?. In a liquid dispensing machine, a conduit including a liquid measuring chamber, an inlet valve to control the entry of liquid into said chamher, a vertically downwardly extending bushing member between said bushing and said mixing I chamber whereby saidconduit member may be moved axially.

21. In a liquid dispensing machine, a liquid supply conduit including a measuring chamber, the inlet and outletv opening to said chamber being arranged one above the other, an inlet valve slidable in said inlet opening, an outlet valve slidable in said outlet opening, and a springv of predetermined length located between said valves and operating during the movement of said outlet valve toward open position to close said inlet' valve prior to the opening of said outlet valve, and thereafter permitting a further movement of the outlet valve intoits open position.

22. In a liquid dispensing machine including a plurality of liquid tanks eachhaving an independent dispensing device including an operating member, a shaft extending past all of the operating 'members, a selecting device movable along said shaft for engagement with a selected one of said ,memberswhereby to operate on, the same for accomplishing a dispensing operation, independent springs associated with said operating members to return the same following a dispensing operation, and a shaft return spring connected to said shaft to return the same whereby the shaft is brought back to its original position whether the selecting device is in or out of engagement with any of said operating members.

23. A machine as in claim 22 including a measuring and discharging device for mixing liquid and means carried by said shaft in constant engagement with said measuring device to operate the a same, said shaft spring serving to return said liquid measuring device to its original position after a dispensing operation.

24. A beverage mixing and dispensing machine comprising a plurality of syrup tanks, an

operating shaft, an independent syrup delivery device for each of said tanks, including an operating member, means providing a common chamber, conduits from each device opening into said common chamber, and means carried by and rocked with said shaft and slidable therealong to engage a selected one of said members whereby to produce the delivery of the corresponding syrup upon actuation of said shaft.

25. A liquid dispensing machine comprising a supply tank, means for providing a measuring and discharging chamber projecting above and below the bottom wall of said tank, said chamber having a free aperture through its wall communicating with said tank and adjacent the bottom thereof, a piston movable in said chamber to positions above and below said aperture so that liquid in the tank may flow by gravity through said 'aperture and beneath said piston when the latter is raised above the aperture, a discharge conduit extending from the bottom of said chamber and including a valve adjacent its discharge end, means to move said piston downward whereby to force excess liquid out of said chamber through said aperture into the tank whereby to prepare a predetermined quantity of liquid in said chamber, said moving means operating thereafter to close said aperture and to move said piston a predetermined distance below the lower edge of said aperture whereby to force through said valve a volume of liquid determined by the bore of said chamber and the travel of said piston below said aperture, said piston being guided in said chamber throughoutits stroke, and devices cooperative with said moving means to prevent retrograde movement of said moving means until said predetermined quantity has been forced out and to prevent further downward movement thereof after initiation of the retrograde movement until the piston has been restored to its initial upper position.

26. In a liquid dispensing machine, a liquid supply tank, a measuring and delivering cylinder including means to admit liquid fromisaid supply tank through a port into said cylinder at an intermediate point of its length, a piston movable] betweenthe raised position in which said port is freeso that liquid may flow by gravity from said supply tank into said cylinder and a position in .which it closes said port, a discharge conduit leading from said cylinder, a pressure-operat-' ed'check valve in said conduit, means for moving said piston to close saidport while forcing liquid outward through said port for delivering a predetermined quantity of liquid in said chamber and conduit, said moving means operating upon said piston after the closure of said port to cause the forcing of -the predetermined quantity of liquid from said cylinder through said conduit and past said valve, and devices cooperative with said moving means to prevent retrograde movement of said,moving means until said predetermined quantity has been forced out and to prevent further downward movement thereof after initiation of the retrograde movement until the piston has been restored to its initial upper position. i

chine, means to deliver a predetermined volume of syrup under pressure, a mixing chamber to receive said syrup, said syrup delivering means including a'valve adjacent said chamber, and means to prepare a predetermined volume of mixing liquid and including a measuring vessel located at a higher level than said mixing 27. In a beverage mixing and dispensing machamber and a gravity-flow conduit from said vessel to said chamber for delivering the liquid into said mixing chamber, said mixing chamber having an outlet, whereby said mixing liquid is initially delivered under pressure into said mixlevel than said mixing chamber and a conduit from said vessel to said chamber whereby to deliver a predetermined quantity of mixing liquid into said mixing chamber, and a common operating device for said delivering means operativeto complete the delivery of said syrup prior to the completion of the delivery of said mixing liquid, whereby the final portions of said mixing liquid may rinse the syrup from said mixing chamber and from said conduit up to said valve.

29. A beverage mixing and dispensing machine comprising means for providing a liquid measuring chamber having oppositely located inlet and outlet connections, an inlet valve for closing said inlet, an outlet valve for closing said outlet, a delivery conduit extending through said outlet and connected to said outlet valve to move the same and having an aperture which establishes communication with said chamber when said outlet valve is opened, an operating shaft, means on the shaft to move the conduit for opening the outlet valve, and a resilient connection between said conduit and said inlet valve whereby to close said inlet valve during the opening movement of said conduit prior to the exposure of said aperture for communication with said chamber and then to hold said inlet valve closed while the aperture is exposed.

30. A beverage'mixing and-dispensing machine comprising a plurality of syrup tanks, an operating shaft, an independent syrup delivery device for each of said'tanks including an operating member, means for providing a common chamber, conduits from each device opening into said common chamber, means providing a measuring chamber for mixing liquid, means for charging and discharging said chamber including an operating element, a conduit from said measuring chamber to said common chamber,'means carried by and rocked with and slidable along said shaft for engaging a selected one of said operating members whereby to produce the delivery of the corresponding syrup upon actuation of said shaft, and means on said shaft for operating said operating element.

RALPH L. ROGERS. 

